Scott Drew
17th Alabama in 1863
Fri Jun 15 20:48:09 2001


I have a number of "relatives" that were in Co. K, 17th Alabama. Newtons and McKellars. 1863 goes something like this:

After Shiloh and the seige of Corinth, Bragg was ordered to move to east Tennessee. The cavalry, artillery and other "rolling stock" was sent overland across north Alabama while the infantry went by rail via Mobile. When passing thru Mobile several regiments, including the 17th and 18th Alabama, were detached to reinforce the city's defences. (Mobiles defences had previously been stripped in order to send forces to Shiloh). The 18th established "Camp Beulah" on Spring Hill Road about 4 miles west of the city. The 17th created "Camp Fourney" on the "Bay Shell Road" which was, obviously, an oyster shell road that ran along the bay shore from Choctaw Point light house (at the south boundary of the city) to the mouth of Dog River (about 6-7 miles south of the city). I am not absolutely positive, but I believe Camp Fourney was located at the extreme north east corner of the Mobile Downtown Airport (formerly Brookley AFB).

These several regiments were "cross-trained" as coast artillery, drilling as infantry in the morning and as artillery in the afternoon (or vice-versa). The 17th was specifically charged with the "Bay Batteries". One of the largest of these batteries was at Choctaw Point. Several were ironclad "floating batteries", one of which was named "Danube" Others were spread along the mouths of the rivers which make up the delta feeding Mobile Bay, these were, in part, the "Pinto Island" battery, the Spanish River battery and a part of 17th was, at least for a while, at the "Apalachee Battery" on the west side of the fork of the Apalachee and Blakely Rivers.

One soldier described Camp Fourney as "beautiful and healthy". Some of the officers and men had wooden houses for their quarters, but most of the regiment lived in walled tents with plank floors. As winter approached, the soldiers bought stoves to heat their quarters. One diarist wrote: "I spent decidedly the most pleasant winter of the War at Mobile". The rations drawn by the troops at Mobile in early 1863 were decidely more varied than those issued to troops in the field. The troops each recieved one pound of beef 8 days in 10; 1 1/4 pounds of of cornmeal 7 days in 10; 15 pounds of rice per 100 men daily, one gallon of molasses per 100 men daily and 4 1/2 pounds of salt per 100 men daily. If molasses was not available it would be made up by doubling the sugar ration. Issued less often, but still available, were: bacon, flour, potatoes and vegatables. To supplement the rations, many of the soldiers planted gardens. At least one regiment planted a whole field of corn and melons. As the war wore on, this abundance dwindled. Even though I have not seen it documented, I'm sure they took full advantage of the fish, crabs and oysters that was in the bay just yards from their camp.

At the time, Mobile was full of refugees from occupied New Orleans that were escaping "Butcher" Butler. It was also chock full of...shall we say: "entertainment"? My favorite story is about the civilian who was awakened by someone trying to get in his second storey bedroom balcony doors. He fired at the intruders who beat a hasty retreat. It was later discovered that it was some soldiers of the 17th who, being a little "toasted", mistook his house for a bordello down the street.

I have, but can't find right now, the date the 17th was sent to Dalton, GA to join Johnston's army, but it wasn't long after the battle of Ringold Gap.

In short, I can't imagine how lucky the 17th was to spend this time in relative luxury and peace. Yes, there were the usual losses to various diseases (measles being the main culprit), but it beats the heck out of fighting and dying for Braxton Bragg! They would later pay dearly during the retreat to Atlanta and then the disaster at Franklin. Lucky